Lionel Richie: “I love the title: Michael J. Beastmode! I mean, you’ve got it. The fact is, you saw exactly what being on stage with Carrie was like. It’s your attitude now. It’s all about you performing, my friend. And tonight I think you started off on a grand scale. Congratulations.”

Katy Perry: “I love you so much. There’s no one like you in this competition, in the music industry, on this planet earth. So I think you’re so exponentially special. You separate yourself because you bring personality and stage presence and you’re a talented artist. And I think that is what makes a star.”

Luke Bryan: “Michael, the most important thing about that performance right there is you were really, really deliberate with your delivery of all of the lyrics. In weeks past sometimes we lose a little of that, but I think America could sit back there and really hear your lyrics and you deliver them and make them believable. Good job.”

In his “American Idol” live blog, our recapper Denton Davidson declared, “Country may not have been his forte up until this point in the competition but he’s actually pulling this off pretty well! In terms of stage presence, Michael is my favorite of the season and he seems particularly relaxed tonight when the pressure is at its highest. This song isn’t a vocal showcase, but Michael moved around the stage like a pro.”

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